OP-ED: CNMI, the Covenant, and the Myth of “Biting the Hand That Feeds Us”
For decades, too many in the CNMI have internalized a dangerous myth—that if we speak up, we are somehow “biting the hand that feeds us.” That myth has kept us silent while billion-dollar decisions are made about our seabed, our islands, and our future.
NMC Opens Registration for Spring 2026 Semester
SAIPAN — Northern Marianas College has opened registration for its Spring 2026 semester, inviting new and returning students to apply for programs ranging from business and nursing to education, hospitality, and criminal justice.
DLNR Secretary Sylvan Igisomar pleads not guilty; case set for February status conference
SAIPAN — Department of Land and Natural Resources Secretary Sylvan Igisomar appeared in Superior Court today for arraignment alongside co-defendants Ignacio Ernesto Itibus Yiftheg and Rosemary C. Camacho, with all three entering not guilty pleas to the criminal charges filed against them by the CNMI Office of the Attorney General.
Leon Guerrero: Governor’s Office advocacy prompts BOEM to extend CNMI deep-sea mining comment deadline
SAIPAN — The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has extended the public comment deadline on a proposal to lease waters near the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for deep-sea mining by an additional 30 days, setting a new deadline of Jan. 12, 2026.
Izumi: Grandvrio to operate through March, then close temporarily in April for renovations
SAIPAN — Grandvrio Resort Saipan plans to continue operating through the end of March 2026 ahead of its temporary closure starting in April, and says the shutdown will be used to carry out facility renovations focused on water, drainage, and electrical systems.
From a taped court to 400+ players: Krums share CNMI pickleball growth on Good Morning Marianas
SAIPAN — What started as a taped-off court in the parking lot of Paradise Dental Spa during the height of COVID-19 has grown into one of the CNMI’s fastest-expanding recreational communities, with organizers now estimating more than 400 local players and regular tournaments drawing well over 100 participants.
HANMI Chairman Dennis Seo responds to Grandvrio notice of temporary closure and membership withdrawal
SAIPAN — The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands acknowledged receipt of Grandvrio Resort Saipan’s notice regarding a temporary closure starting April 2026 and the resort’s withdrawal of HANMI membership as of December 2025, HANMI Chairman Dennis Seo said in a statement provided to NMI News Service.
SPECIAL TO THE NMI NEWS SERVICE: Pet hoarding is a local problem and it needs a community response
Pet hoarding is a problem that doesn’t just happen in distant places or on sensational TV shows—it’s something our own community has faced, and continues to face, with real consequences for both animals and people. Over the years, we have seen firsthand how situations that start with good intentions can spiral out of control, leaving animals in desperate need and those trying to help overwhelmed, exhausted, and often financially underwater.
BREAKING NEWS: Grandvrio Resort Saipan to temporarily close starting April 2026; withdraws from HANMI
SAIPAN — Grandvrio Resort Saipan has notified the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands (HANMI-Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands) that it plans to temporarily close starting April 2026, citing “extremely challenging business conditions” tied to a significant decline in tourist arrivals after the reduction and suspension of direct flights to Saipan.
American Samoa Said “No.” The CNMI Must Decide What Future We Are Willing to Accept
When American Samoa overwhelmingly rejected deep-sea mining earlier this year, many
believed their position would be decisive. But despite unified opposition from government
leaders, cultural practitioners, and local communities, the final decision may still be made in
Washington, D.C. — not Pago Pago.
